Case making machine



I 1785- 1937- B. JEFFREYS CASE MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb 7- B. JEFF REYS CASE MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1934 2 sheets sheet 2 ymvzgzfcya Patented Feb. 9, 1937 Ni'l'E s'r'res i TENT OFFIQE 14 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of bookbindery and particularly to the art of making book covers or cases. The invention particularly relates to a machine for making cases and provides semiautomatic means of marked utility in the making of cases by hand.

My invention has for an object to provide a case making machine having means for supporting a case sheet or cover in a predetermined relation to the positioning of the case flap stiffening elements or binders boards whereby the edges of the case cover may be easily and quickly folded in and over the said binders boards to effect a desired registration of said binders boards with portions of the case cover, as for example,printedportions thereof. The invention has for a further object to provide means adapted to engage the case cover in said supported position, said means likewise adapted to guide and rule the positioning of said binders boards into a desired position with reference to the case cover.

A still further object is to provide means for retracting the said case cover engaging means from a position of engagement with a case cover to permit substitution or replacement of one case cover for another case cover in the regular progression of work. Thus, one side of a case cover may be coated with cementitious material and be placed on the case cover supporting means of the machine of my invention, the coated side being uppermost, and the case cover engaging means may be moved from a retracted position to a position of engagement with the case cover to guide and rule the positioning of the binders boards into a predetermined adhesive relation with the case cover. The case cover engaging means may be then moved to a retracted position, disengaging the case cover and permitting folding and bending of the case cover edges over the edges 5) of the binders boards, completing thereby the making of the case.

A further object of my invention is to provide means adapted to engage the portions of the case cover engaging means while in retracted position and to efifect a removal of such cementitious material as may be deposited on and/ or picked up by the said portions so that in repeated operations of said case cover engaging means, the said portions will not become caked with the cementitious material to the resultant interference with its function and tendency to stick to and carry the case cover on the said means while moving to and from the case cover supporting means. A still further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically wiping case cover engaging portions of the case cover engaging means while moving the said case cover engaging means to and from a retracted position insuring thereby a more positive removal of cementitious material from said portions.

The invention has for a particular object to provide a semi-automatic, hand and/or foot powered machine of simple construction and high efficiency for making cases by hand and to thereby meet the need of the average printer and his bookbinding requirements.

The invention consists in other features and advantages which will appear from the following description and upon examination of the drawings. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a case making machine as an example of the various structures and details thereof that contain the invention and shall describe the selected case making machine hereinafter, it being understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular case making machine selected is shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a side View of a case making machine embodying the elements of my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 3-3 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates a View of a section taken on the plane of the line 44 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 illustrates a side sectional view of a modified form of an element of my invention.

A case making machine embodying the elements of my invention has a work table on which a case cover may be supported in full extended position and having a coating of cementitious material, the coated side of the sheet being uppermost. Adjustable guide means are provided on the work table for allocating the case cover according to a desired position. Also, supported by the work table and in movable relation thereto is a means for engaging and holding the case cover in its allocated position. The said last named means is adapted to be moved to and from a case cover engaging position either by a foot pedal or manually. Said last named means is further provided with elements adapted to guide binders board into a desired position relative to the case cover and rule the board with the case cover and such printing as may be contained thereby. Some of said elements are adjustable to permit use of the machine in makingcases of a variety of dimensions. An element is provided for supporting'the case cover engaging means when the same is not in case cover engaging position. Said element has means for removing substantially all cient working surface on which a case may be made. The top 2 is supported by suitable legs 3 at a height convenient to the operator of the machine. The table top is adapted to receive in I flat and extended relation a case cover having a coating of glue or the like, the coated side being cover to be bent over the binders boards, a back cover guide 6 is provided on the table top 2. The guide 6 may be formed from an angle bar and is preferably adjustable with reference to the table top 2, such as by the pins 8 which have threaded portions 9 and extend through split collar brackets Ill. The brackets lllmay be connected to the table I by suitableibolts l2. A nut l4'may be threadably mounted on the threaded portion 9 of each pin so that on rotation thereof, the guide 6 will be moved relative to the table top. Suitable pin locking means of the well known type, such as the screw l3 which on tightening tends to clamp the split collar bracket on the pin 8, may be provided for holding the pin 8 and guide 6 in a desired established position.

A cover side guide l5 isalso provided and when" used in conjunction with the guide 6, definitely locates the case sheet to be worked on. The guide 2 means of the screws l8 which extend through the holder Hi. The holder I6 is preferably adjust able with reference to the table top 2 to adapt the machine to case covers of various dimensions.

The holder l6 has a laterally'extending tongue portion 20, the under surface of which is preferably milled, as at 2|, to extend into and slide along a slot 22 formed in the table top. A headed bolt 24 is adapted to extend through the slot 22 and through the tongue portion 20. A portion 25 of the head of the bolt 24 is likewise milled and adapted to extend into the slot 22. A suitable nut 21 is adapted to be threadably connected to the bolt 24 and thus whentightened will clamp the tongue 20 and holder. IS in a desired established position on the table top along the slot 22.

I fdesired an auxiliary cover side guide 28 may be providedon the table top. The guide 26 is of the same construction as the guide I5 and is adjustable along a slot 29. The auxiliary guide 28 may be used for left-handed operators or to conform with an established production line. 7

The case cover being thus allocated onthe table top 2, a means is provided for holding it in its established position. The said means comprises a member 30 preferably of some weight so that when it rests on the tabletop 2, the case cover will be clamped between themember 30 and the table top. The member 30 is connected to and is movable relative to the table top 2.

the table in spaced relation to each other to permit movement of the member 30 therebetween. Each bracket 32 is pivotally connected by a pair of links 33 to either side of the member 30. The links 33 are so connected and disposed as to re- Preferably, a pair of brackets 32 are each connected to main in constant parallelism with each other as the member 30 is moved with reference to the table top 2. By so connecting the member 30 to its supporting brackets 32, considerable amplitude of movement inwardly from the edgeo-f the table top 2 can be. obtained and thus engagement of a goodly center portion of the case cover can be effected eliminating the need for permanent parts extending over the table top to become confused and in conflict with free use of the table top when the member 30 has been moved off the table top or 'a retracted position, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

. Also, the member 30 can be moved at some speed from positions of table top contact to retracted positions by reason of the provision of the described swinging links 33.

In order to provide stiffened case flaps, a binders board, such as the binders board illustrated diagrammatically at 35 in Fig. 2, is positioned on either flap portion of the case cover and aflixed thereto by the cementitious coating provided on the case cover. The member 30 is preferably provided with a pair of back binders boar-d guides 36. Each guide 36 is disposed on the member 30 in alignment with each other, and

when the member 30 is located on the table top 2, each extends paralleland in spaced relation to the back cover guide 6. The distance between the guide 6 and the guides 36 determines the amount of the case cover to be folded over to complete the case flap edges. A pair of parallel spine guides 38 are likewise disposed on the member 38 and extend at right angles to the guides 36. Thus, each board 35 is guided to a desired position on the case cover by the relation of each guide 36 to its complementary spine guide 38. If.

desired, the spine guides may be 'adjustably mounted on the member 30, each being provided with a laterally extending web portion 39 having a groove 40 slideably movable along a depending ridge 4| formedin the member 30. The spine guides may be locked in an established relation by suitable wing nuts 43 threadably mounted on bolts 44 which extend through the may be beveled, as at 46, and the edges of the spine guides 38 contacting with case cover be beveled as at 41. To further insure that the case cover contacting edges of both back and spine guides do not become coated with the adhesive in the repeated operations of the machine tend ing to pick up successive case covers and to otherwise operate in an inefficient manner, a resilient, moistened, and absorbent pad is adapted to contact the said back and spine guide case cover I contacting edges when the member 30 is moved to a retracted position from the table top 2 and to thus remove the adhesive collected on said edges. The pad 50 is preferably supported in a tray which is slidably supported on track members 52 suitably mounted on the table l. The tray 5| is pivotally connected, as at 53, to an end of each of a pair of links 55. The other end of each link 55 is pivotally connected, as at 55, to the ends of a U-shaped arm 56. The arm 56 is pivotally mounted by a pin 51 on each bracket The arm 56 is pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the member by suitable pins 58. The base 55 of the U-shaped arm 55 forms a convenient handle to be gripped by the operator and when moved angularly about the pivot pin 5'5 away from the table top 2 lifts and retracts the member from the table top 2, moving the said member with an arcuate motion defined by the swinging links 33, and at the same time moves the tray 5| containing the pad 55 toward the table top 2 through the links 54 and under the cover contacting edges of the guides 56 and 38, until the member 35 and the guides 35 and 38 attached thereto rest on the pad 55. The moisture contained in the pad 56 will tend to remove the adhesive on the cover contacting edges of the guides 35 and 38 so that when the handle 59 is moved angularly toward the table top 2, the edges of guides 35 and 38 will be substantially clean and in condition for the continued performance of their above described functions. Also, by reason of the resiliency of the pad 55 there will be a wiping action as between the pad and the edges of the guides during the last movements of the member 30 toward the final retracted position 5 and during the first movements of the member 3!! from a retracted position toward the table top.

In the modified form of tray and pad construction illustrated in Fig. 5, the tray 5! has a pad 55] as before described. The tray 5| is resiliently supported on and above a member 68, such as by suitable band springs 5!. The member 55 is connected to the ends of the arm 55 by the links 54. Thus, when the member 30 is moved toward the establishment of a contacting relation of the cover contacting edges of the guides 36 and 33 with the pad 50, the edges of the guides 35 and 38 will contact the pad 55 just before the last movements of the member 35 to a completely retracted position at rest on the pad and, as diagrammatically illustrated by the arrows 52 in Fig. 5, effect an extended wiping action as between the pad and the said edges of the guides 36 and 38. A further wiping action will be obiained during the first movements of the member 30 from a retracted position.

If desired, the movement of the member 30 to and from the table top 2 may be eifected by a suitable foot pedal 65. The foot pedal 55 may be pivotally mounted as at 5'! on a bracket 55 connected to the table I. The pedal 55 is connected by a link 68 to the end of an arm H! of a crank 59. The crank 69 is pivotally supported on a bracket H mounted on the table and has an arm 12. The arm 12 is connected as at '73, to a link 15. The link is pivotally connected to the U-shaped arm 56. Thus, by depressing the pedal 65, the member will be moved from retracted position toward the table top 2. In depressing the pedal 65, a coiled spring 2'6, interconnecting the pedal and the bracket 55 in a well-known manner, will be distorted so that on release of the pedal 55, the return of the member 30 to a retracted position off the table top 2 will be automatically effected and the pedal returned to its initial position.

The folding in and over of the edges of the case cover with respect to the binders boards may be done by hand to complete the making of the case.

I claim:

1. A case making machine comprising means for supporting a case cover, a case cover guiding means disposed on said first named means, a case cover engaging means movably disposed with reference to the first named means for engaging the case cover at points proximate to the central portion thereof and having a guiding element associated therewith, the said guiding element adapted to direct the placement of a binders board with reference to said central portion of the case cover whereby said case cover and binders board may be associated in a predetermined rela tion.

2. A case making machine comprising means for supporting a case cover in an extended position, a case cover guiding means disposed on said first named means, a case cover engaging means movably disposed with reference to the first named means for engaging the case cover at points well within the edges thereof and having a plurality of adjustable guiding elements associated therewith, the said plurality of guiding elements adapted to direct the placement of a binders board with reference to the said case cover whereby said case cover and binders board may be associated in a predetermined relation.

3. A case making machine comprising means for supporting a case cover in an extended position, a case cover engaging means movably disposed with reference to the first named means and adapted to be moved to and from contact therewith, and means adapted to contact said case cover engaging means when the same is moved from contact with first named means whereby the case cover engaging means may be maintained free of foreign substances.

4. A case making machine comprising means for supporting an adhesive-coated case cover in an extended position, a case cover engaging means movably disposed with reference to the first named means and adapted to be moved to and from contact with said case cover, and means adapted to wipingly contact said case cover engaging means for an extended period as the case cover engaging means is moved from contact with the case cover whereby adhesive may be wipingly 1 removed from the case cover engaging means.

5. A case making machine comprising means for supporting a case cover, means for allocating said case cover on said first named means, a case cover engaging means movably disposed with reference to the first named means and adapted to be moved to and from contact therewith, the case cover engaging means having an element for allocating a binders board with reference to said first named means and said case cover, and means adapted to contact with said element when the second named means is moved from contact with the first named means whereby said element may be maintained free of materials with which it contacts on the first named means.

6. A case making machine comprising a table, the table having a surface adapted to receive a case cover in an extended position, an adjustable case cover guide located on the table surface, a second case cover guide located on the table surface and being adjustable in a direction at right angles to the first named guide, a member movably supported on the table and adapted to clampingly engage the case cover to the table surface, the said member having a guide extending 7 case cover, a moisture-containing, cushioned eleadhesive material in an extended position, a member having portions adapted to' engage the case cover andmovably disposed with reference to the first named means, means for moving the member to and from positions of engagement with said case cover, and a resilient element movable upon movement of the member and adaptedto contact the said member portions when the same are in disengagement with said case cover whereby such adhesive material carried by the said portions may be removed.

8. A case making machine comprising means for supporting .a casecover having a coating of adhesive materials in an extended position, a member having portions adapted to engage the case cover movably disposed with reference to the first named means, means for moving the member to and from positions of engagement with said ment movable upon movement of the member and adapted to contact the saidmember portions when the same are in disengagement with said case cover whereby such adhesive material carried by said. portions may be flushed therefrom.

9. A case making machine comprising means for supporting a case cover having a coating of adhesive material in an extended position, a member having portions adapted to engage the case cover and movably disposed'with'reference to the first named means, means for moving the member to and from positions of engagement with said case cover, a moisture containing element movable upon movement of the member and adapted to wipingly contact the said member portions for an extended period'as the member is moved from engagement with said case cover whereby such adhesive material carried by said portions may be flushed therefrom.

' 10. A case making machine comprising a table, the table having a surface for supporting a case cover coated with adhesive material, a plurality of guides adjustably supported on the said surface 7 for allocating the case cover, a member supported on the table and movably disposed'with reference thereto, the member having a plurality of guides adapted to engage the adhesive-coated case cover and to guidably locate binders board with reference to said case cover, means for moving the member away from said surface, and a moisture- ,containing pad movable upon 'movement of the member and disposed to wipingly contact the said member portions during the course of movement of said membertoward and-away from said surface.

11. A case making machine having a frame, the frame having a surface for supporting a case cover, guide means disposed in proximate association to the said supporting surface for allocating a case cover with reference thereto, a case cover engaging means movably supported on the frame and movable to and from a. position of superimposed and restraining contact with a case cover supported on the, said supporting surface from and to a position substantially beyond the perimeter of said surface whereby a case cover may be placed on orremoved from the said surface with ease and without contactinggthe case cover engaging means when said meansfi in' the second named position.

12. A case making machine comprising means for supporting a case cover, means for allocating said case cover on said first named means, a. .means movably disposed withreference'to said first named meansfor engaging substantially central portions of'the said case cover and having an element for allocating a binders board with reference to said central portions of the case cover whereby said case cover and binders' board may be associated in predetermined relation.

13. A case making machine having a frame, the frame having a surface for supporting a case cover, guide means disposed in proximate association to the said supporting surface for allocating a case cover with reference thereto, a case cover engaging means having a binder board guiding element mounted thereon, the case cover engaging means movably supported on the frame and movable to and from a position of superim posed and restraining contact with a casexcover supported on the said supporting surface from and to a position substantially beyond the perimeter of said surface whereby the case cover may be engaged by said case cover engaging means and a binder board maybe disposed on said case cover as determined by said binder-board guide element and thereafter the case cover en? gaging means be moved to its second named'positions. to permit easy removal of the associated case cover and binder board.

14. A case making machine having a frame,

the frame having a surface for supporting a case 7 cover, guide means disposed in proximate association to the said supporting surface for allocating a case cover with reference thereto, a case cover engaging, means and means for movably supporting said case cover engaging means on the frame whereby the case cover engaging means may be moved from a position of superim- 'posed restraining contact with a case cover supported on said supporting surface in directions initially upwardly and then laterally to a point substantially beyond the perimeter of the said surface whereby a case cover may be removed from the said surface-with ease and without contacting the case cover engaging means when in its position substantially beyond the perimeter of the said supporting surface.v

BRYAN J EFFREYS. 

